This is the first State visit to Russia by Vietnam’s top Party and State leader since 1991. It comes at a particularly significant time, following the 14th National Party Congress and the election of the 16th National Assembly.
The visit is expected to maintain high-level exchanges between the two countries, and translate the strategic trust built over many years into new drivers of development.
A foundation of traditional friendship
Vietnam and the former Soviet Union, now the Russian Federation, officially established diplomatic relations in January, 1950. Since then, bilateral ties have been continuously strengthened and developed.
In May 2025, the two sides adopted a Joint Statement on major directions for their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in a new period of cooperation, reaffirming their determination to make better use of their potential and opportunities and elevate bilateral ties to a new level.
Party leader General Secretary and President To Lam’s visit carries particular significance.
Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Gennady Bezdetko said: “We regard the visit as an important milestone in the development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Russia and Vietnam. We expect the two sides to hold substantive discussions on all issues on the bilateral agenda, agree on new long-term areas of cooperation, and make concrete decisions to further strengthen our relations.”
These expectations point to a key question facing Vietnam-Russia relations today: How can political trust be translated into tangible results in bilateral cooperation?
Vietnam and Russia enjoy strong political ties, but their economic cooperation still has considerable untapped potential. Two-way trade totaled 4.8 billion USD in 2025, and more than 2.1 billion USD in the first five months of 2026, up 6.4% year-on-year.
These figures underscore the need for both sides to expand the scale of economic cooperation and develop new forms of partnership suited to their circumstances and the changing global economy.
New momentum from science and technology
Science and technology is emerging as one of the most promising areas of cooperation.
Bezdetko said: “We attach particular importance to promoting cooperation in high-tech industries, especially in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Relevant agencies and organizations from both sides are establishing cooperation in areas such as smart cities, one-stop public services, database security, and digital solutions for transport and industry. Artificial intelligence and information security are also among the priority areas of cooperation amid the current geopolitical environment.”
The space for Vietnam-Russia cooperation is expanding beyond traditional areas into future-oriented sectors through practical partnerships and stronger connections.
Evgeny Vlasov, Chairman of the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association, said: “The political friendship and trust between the leaders of the two countries will spread to all levels of cooperation. If the leaders of the two countries sign an agreement, that is only one part of the story. But if that spirit of friendship and trust reaches every level, including those directly responsible for implementation and ordinary people, the results will certainly be on a completely different scale. It will also create stronger momentum for trade and economic growth between the two countries.”
The Vietnamese community in Russia can also make a contribution to connecting the two economies and scientific communities. Nguyen Quoc Hung, Director of the Tradition and Friendship Foundation and Vice Chairman of the Association of Vietnamese Organizations in Russia, said Party leader and President To Lam’s visit is expected to provide an important new impetus for this process.
“The visit is a great source of encouragement for the Vietnamese community abroad. Our initiative to establish a Vietnam-Russia intellectual network, with its launch taking place as part of the Strategic Technology Forum and attended by leaders of the two countries, will provide new momentum for closer links between the intellectual communities of Vietnam and Russia. It will open a promising new chapter for both countries and for the Vietnamese community here,” said Mr. Hung.
From trust to cooperation, from cooperation to effectiveness, and from effectiveness to new drivers of development, Vietnam and Russia are writing a new chapter in their comprehensive strategic partnership.
